Untargeted serum metabonomic reveals alleviated ovalbumin-induced asthma by Baijin Pingchuan through primary bile acid biosynthesis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of baijinpingchuan (, BJPC) on the asthma rat model and identify differential metabolites and disturbed metabolic pathways.

METHODS

The rats were categorized into six groups: control, dexamethasone (DEX), ovalbumin (OVA), and low-, median-, and high-dose BJPC. The rats, except for the control group, were initially treated with OVA to develop the asthma model, which was then activated using DEX, OVA, and low-, median-, and high-dose BJPC. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to detect the expression of interleukin (IL)-33, IL-25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). Hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to observe the pathological condition of the lung. Untargeted serum metabonomic analysis was conducted to identify differential metabolites and disturbed metabolic pathways.

RESULTS

High-dose BJPC significantly inhibited the expression of IL-33, IL-25, TSLP, and TGF-β1 ( 0.0001). Further, high-dose BJPC improved inflammatory cell infiltration, which plays a similar role in asthma as DEX. OVA-induced and BJPC-treated rats were identified through 17 differential metabolites, especially cholic acid. Furthermore, primary bile acid biosynthesis was a significantly differential pathway in the mechanism of BJPC for treating asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

BJPC plays an anti-inflammation role in asthma, which might be a promising therapy through mediating primary bile acid biosynthesis.